Hydroaeroplane



G. II. CURTISS.

HYDROAEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22, I9II.

Patented June 20, 1922.

G. H. CURTISS.

HYDROAEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED AuG.22,`I9II.

'5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 20, 1922.

G. H. CURTISS.

, HYnRoAERoPLANf-z.

APPLICATIONFLED AUG-22| 191|. 1,420,609. Patented June 20, 1922'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

GA. H. CURTISS.

HYDROAEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.22. 191,1.

Patented `J une 20, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

G. H. CURTISS.

HYDROAEROPLANE.

. APPLICATION FILED AuG.22, IsII. I I Patented Jlllle 20, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ma f' f l UNITED STATES y PATENT, oFFicE.

GLENN H. CURTISS, OF HAMMONDSPORT, NEW YORK, 'ASSIGNOR To) CURTISS 'AE'Ro- I PLANE & MOTOR CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HYDROAEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 20 *1922.

Application led August V22,1911. Serial No. 645,340.

To all w/wm t may concern:

Be it known that I, GLENN H. CUii'rIss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammondsport, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydroaeroplanes, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in hydro-aeroplanes, and has reference particularly to a machine adapted toalight on the water and rise therefrom by its own power. x

. There have been various speculative suggestions of machines for flying from the water into the air and again alighting upon the water; but prior to-my invention no one had succeeded in building a successful machine for accomplishing this purpose.

This invention relates to features of construction of the machine and combinations of elements and controlling means, whereby the machine can be laterally balanced and ,controlled on the water and caused to hydroplane to reduce its resistance on the water, and be flown from the water into the v'air and again alight upon the water. g

My inventionI 'will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings which show the preferred form of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view'from the Ofront, parts havin been omitted inorder not to complicate t e drawings;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Figs. 3, 4 and 14 are details of the folding wheel construction;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 6 a front view showing the arrangement .of the mechanism for operating the ailerons;

Figs. 7 and v8 are rear end side elevations of a socket;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of av portion of the superposed surfaces;

Fig. 10 a plan view of one of the panels.:

Fig. 11 a front. elevation of a machine having three superposed surfaces; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of Fig. 10 taken on the line X--X.

Figs. 13-16 are enlarged details.

The machine shown in the drawings is one constructed so as to be capable of landing and fioating on the -water and of being driven forward by its own power in contact with the water, at a speed suflicientto cause the lift of the air to be greater than the weight of the whole machine, in order that the machine may rise out of the water and fly 1n the air. In the drawings. I have shown an aeroplane or heavier-than-air machine provided with floating means to support the same on the water, and other constructions by which this result maybe accomplished. The aeroplane proper is substantially the ordinary Curtiss machine which is nowV well known. It comprises an aeroplane surfacev sufficient to support the whole machine inthe air and which is preferably split up into two superposed areas or surfaces 1 and 2 connected by spacing posts 3 and 4. 5 is a front substantially-horizontal rudder pivoted at 6 to the frame and rockableon its pivot by a manually movable device under the control of the operator, such as a 'lever 7 located in front of the operators seat and pivoted at 8 to rock back and forth. 9 is a connecting bar pivoted at its ends to the elevating lane 5 and to the lower end of the said lever 10 and 11 are fixed horizontal surfaces at the rear, andA 12, 13 are substantially horizontal elevating rudders pivoted to the fixed surfaces at 14. 15 is a vertical rudder pivoted to the fixed surface. 16, 17 is the bedy for the engine 18.- This engine may beithe well known eight cylinder horsepower four cycle Curtiss engine, the cylinders being ar ranged in V position with radiator 19, tail shaft 20, and ropeller 21 having a radius of 3J2- feet andp about 1200 revolutions per minute. 23 are substantially flat ailerons located between the surfaces 1 and 2 and are preferably pivoted to the rear posts 4, 4. These ailerons may be thrown in opposite directions by the .operator by means which will be hereafter described and which are shown in Fig. 6, in order to restore the equilibrium of the machine in flight through the air. The elevating rudders 5, 12 and 15.serve to direct the course of the machine up or down as desired, or to tilt it up or down on the water and the means by which they may be operated will be more particularly described hereafter.

Carried below the aeroplane surface 2 and pitch of 6 feet, rotating at 22 and fixed thereto by braces 24, 25, 26 is a fi'oatsists of a single watertight boat 27, one foot deep, twofeet wide, and 16 feet long, flat -on top and` bottom and upwardly-inclined at its forward under surface 28 and downlwardly inclined at its rear upper surface 29 to form in intersection with the bottom a transverse edge extending all the way across the boat. The surface 28 and the flat bottom .water the boat is submerged tol substantially the water line indicated by the dotted line 30,' and preferably extends somewhat forward of the aeroplane proper and to the rear of the propeller 21 and also to the rear of the centerof gravity of the machine. It

v'will be obvious'that when the machine is at y speed on the water the action of the surface of the inclined prow and flat bottom lifts the boat to the top of the water. Furthermore that in accordance with the laws of the hydroplane the region of the `center of hydrop-lane lift lies nearer to the front edge of the surface than to the rear edge, in t e usual casef one-third its length from the leadingedge. The projection of the boat forward of the wings as shown places its central portionopposite the region ofthe center 'of aeroplane lift, and therefore its owncenteroflift'in advance thereof. I prefer to divide thefloating means into separate compartments by transverse partitions 31 to re l vent any water which may leak in from owling back. and forth in the boat.

. In order to prevent either side ofthe planes from- .coming in contact with the water during travel through the water, I

have? provided at each side thereof devices acted jon by the rush of water at positive .angles of incidence in order to give a lift to either side which may be depressed. T hese are preferably upwardly inclined dev1ces extending slightly into the water when the machineis at rest, and which when the machine is at full speed barely touch the water, and in the embodiment shown are narrow blades 39 and 40 of flexible wood which, in traveling over the water, stand in the position shown in Fig. 1. yIf either `side of the machine tips downward,the blade on that side touches the water and through the lift exerted bythe rush of water straighten's up the machine to substantial equilibrium. This operation in the `embodiment shown takes place without anylnecessaryac'tion on the part ofthe operator, and therefore constltutes an automatic stabilizing means. The floats 32 and 33 are 34 and 35 to the braces 36, 37, and 38 38 are springs normally tending to`hold the floats hor1zontal as shown in Fig. 1. In order that the .operator may, if' he desires vary the 1ncl1nat1on of the floats and blades, I have' ,provided a lever 42 connected to a wire 43 preferably pivoted at leading to each float, so that by movement of tion allows the floats and blades to return to K the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2, where they will exert slight head resistance to the rush of air. ',When the machine is at rest on the water, the floats may be allowed to take the horizontal position and prevent either side of the machine from dipping into the water. When .the machinezis started, the operator ma throw his lever to incline the floats and b ades, as shown in Fig. 1, and they will then act as an automatic stabilizing means. When the machine gets into the air the operator causes them to return to the horizontal position. The inclined portion 28 of the boat is one form of a hydro-surface which is adapted if it should first strikethe water as the machine descends to tilt the front of the machine upwardly as it alights on the water, in order that the sudden resistances offered by the water may not causel the machine to dive. 45 and 46 are wheels constituting the preferred form of means for supporting the machinev in travel in contact with the earth, ifthe machine is desired torun over the earth also. They; are hung from the Ina- `chine and project slightly below the lower surface of the boat, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In order that they may exert less resistance when the machine is moving through the water, I have provided, means under the control of the operator for raising the wheels vout ofthe water when the machine the U-shaped end 54 of the brace 49. Bent .arms 55 fixed to the frame 52 carry plvoted to them at 56 a locking detent 57, which has a catch-nose 58 engaging a bar 59 on the U-shaped frame 54. 60 is a spring normally holding the latch in the position shown in Fig. 4. The preferred mechanism for raising the wheels comprises a slidable rack bar 105 (see Figs. 13 and 14) engaged by a spring-pressed detent 106. 62 is a wire connected' to the bar and. running to the axle of the wheel, being. led over suitable pulleys such as 61. 107 is a foot lever pivoted4 to the boat at 108 and carrying a spring dog 109; 110 is a spring to draw lever 107 backwards.' As the foot lever is reciprocated it forces the bar 105 downwardly, being held by detent 106 at each reciprocation, drawing on wire 62 and collapsing the frame 47, 49, 52 to the raised position shown in Fig. 14. The holding latch 106 may be tripped by a wire 111 and handle112 adjacent to the operators seat. In order to release lock 57 a wire 113 runs therefore to a pulley 114 loose on wire 62. This latter A'is slack when the wheels are down and locked, and as the slack is taken up' it draws on wire 113, unlocking latch 57 just before wire 62 becomes taut. Of course the other wheel is provided with the same construction, the wires 62 of both wheels bein connected to rack bar 105. Releasing .the deten't 106 before the machine cornes out of the rear rudders carries a post 63 extending above and below it, and from the upper end of each post a wire 64 leads to the lever v7 below its pivot, and fromthe lower end of each post 63 a wire 65 leads to the lever 7 above its pivot. Consequently when the lever 7 is pulled backward toward the operator, the connecting bar 9 causes the elevating rudder 5 to be presented to the wind at a positive angle of incidence and both rudders 12 and 13 to 'be tilted up to a negative angle of incidence. Consequently the action of the air on the rudder 5 tends to elevate the front ofv the machine, and the action of the air on the rudder 12 and 13 tends to depress the rear of the machine. Obviously movement of lever 7 in the opposite direction has the contrary effect. Thev rudders 12 and 13 are preferably cut away as shown in Fig. 5, and pivo jd between them and to the horizontal fixe surface is a. vertical rudder 15 which swings between the rudders 12 and 13. The vertical rudder may be operated from a steering wheel 66 mounted on lever* 7 and' connected to the vertical rudder by tiller ropes 67, passing up through the hollow lever 7, arm 121 'and around said wheel 66 asshown. in Fig. 15.

The fixed surfaces 10 and 11 are substantially V-shaped but joined together to provide a fixed pivot for the vertical rudder and are fixed at their rear and immovably held at their apexes by vthe connecting struts 68 and 69. This construction prevents the whipping which might occur if the V- shaped space between them were not provided.

The ailerons 22, 23 are preferably located substantially midway between'the surfaces 1 and 2, and therefore are not so much affected by the deflection of the air currents caused by the impingement of the air onl said surfaces 1 and 2, as said ailerons would be if they were hung directly to the rear edge of said surfaces. In the present embodiment I have shown them as pivoted the rear posts, but .this location is not' essential, although such location is preferable as the wedging effect of the air is less at this position than would be the case if they were moved forward and pivoted to the front posts. I, however, do not desire to be limited to any particular location of the ailerons, or to thev use of ailerons as distinguished from other known lateral balancing means.

Inorder to provide means undei the control of the operator for throwing these ailerons to opposite angles of incidence, I have provided connections therefrom by which the operator may tilt them in either direction, and preferably simultaneously in opwhich the frame may be moved from side to' side, and carr ing pivoted to it a rocking arm 72 with wires or ropes 73, 74 and 75, 76,

said wires being attached to the projections or posts 77, 78 on the ailerons. It will be obvious that moving the shoulder frame in either lateral direction will tilt the ailerons in opposite directions.

The ailerons, as well as the rear rudders 12 and 13, are stifl'ened by wires running from each end of the posts or'projections thereon to the corners of said surfaces. In order to allow the control mechanism which operates the ailerons and vertical and horizontal rudders to be shifted to or from a passenger I have provided a construction by which this may l be done instantaneously when in flight.

In the preferred construction illustrated thel passenger is provided with a seat 118 and laterally movable shoulder frame 119 similar to that on seat 71, but normally unconnected to frame 70. In order to connect the frame 119 `to the aileron Wires so that they may be operated from: frame 119 I have provided a latch 120 which may be snapped over frame 70 as shown in dotted lines. This may be done almost instantaneosly, and the passenger may then operate the ailerons. In vorder to pass the control for the vertical and horizontal rudders to the passenger I prefer to rotatably mount the vsteering wheel 66 within a fork 66 0n arm 121 pivoted to levers 7 at 122 so that the wheel may be passed across from one seat to the other. It may be locked in either posltion by a quadrant 123 fixed to lever 7 and a spring latch 124 on arm 121'. This consockets by which a panel may be easily fastened to or detached from an adjacent panel, and the sockets provided with means for attaching the spacing posts. to them in order that any number of surfaces may be easily superposed, and in fact any ,formy of machine made without materially weakening the construction. The machine shown is built up of separate panels, one of which is shown in Fig. 10, comprising av frame having a front bar 79, a rear bar 80, side bars 81 and 82 and ribs. 83, 84. Cloth or any other equivalent air-resisting material 85 is stretched over top and bottom f the frame and may be tacked to the bars and ribs. 125, 126 are strengthening braces to prevent lateral distortion.

In order to detachably hold the panels,Iv

have provided sockets such as shown in Figs. 7,8 ands 9, made of metal bent into a substantial U-shape. As seen in F ig.v 9, the panel 87 is slipped laterally into the socket 88 and fastened by passing the bolt 89 through the socket and side bar. The panel 90 is slipped into the similar socket 91 and similarly fastened.. The spacing post 4 is ,f y

`chine from burying, that is,

slipped into the sockets 91 and 92, andthe diagonal trussing` wires 93, 94 attached to the diagonalears of the socket. If two ad ditional panels are to be provided in the same plane as the other panels, the similar panels 95, 96 may be'slipped into theeopenl of the sockets and similarly fastened ends and trussed by the lWires 97, 98..l The sockets 125 at the rear may be the same, or, if it is desired to extend the surfaces beyond the rear posts, they may be made in two parts by merely cutting o the connecting metal as shown by the dotted line. 3/-3/ in'Fi'g. 8.

If it is desired to make a machine of three 'superposed surfaces, or to add or omit any desired panels, it is 'vverv easy toido so. For exam le as shown in Fig. 11, air-additional surfiice l0() has been added above Athe other two by adding Afive similar panels with sockets and posts und trussing wires. With such constructiton the machine may be easlly assembled and knocked down, and the cost of construction is materially reduced,

Assuming the machine to be resting on the water, the operator releases his lever allowiny the floats 2li! and 233 to come tothe horizontal position so that .they support either side of the machine whlch tips downward' and tend to dive.- `on the.water, the bladeskeep it in substanwardly After raising the wheels, the enside of the machine causes the blade, on that side to enter the water to an extent proportional to the amount of depression and the other blade will rise out of the water. The one in the water exerts a lift due to waterrush against the inclined surface which will restore equilibrium, and the lift decreases Aas equilibrium is approached. The machine will therefore automatically be kept substantially horizontal. In making Va turn to the left or the right on the water, the effectof thel rear Vertical steering rudder vmay be supplemented by causing the one or the other balancingl blade to exert a drag on the side towardwhich the turn is to be made. This lmay be done by depressing either side of 'the machine by the use of the ailerons. This will cause the machinev to tip laterally and the blade on' the depressed side to dip into the water to an abnormal extent, and help to turn the machine toward that side.f The actionof the inclined surface 28 of the boat causes the machine to tilt upward somewhat, and the flat under-surface of the boat and the downwardly-inclined surface 29 thereon causes the waterto be left in a not seriously disturbed con'dition and prevents the ma.- i

tipping unduly downward at therear. When the speed of the machine over the water is sufficient, the operator pulls the lever 7 backward, which 'tilts the front` elevating rudder to a` positive angle of incidence, and the` two rear elevating rudders to negative angles of incidence, and the machine rises out of the water. The operator then releases' the lever 61, which allows the oats 32,33 Vand-blades to take the horizontal position where they offer the least resistance to the atmosphere.l In dev scending to alight ony the water, the oper` ator shuts off 'his `engine if desired,` and glides downward to the'water, at the same time pulling on his lever 42 to incline the balancing blades. The inclined hydro-sur- -face 2,8, if it first strikes'the .water serves to turn the machine upwardly from its gliding course, s o that it will not topple over for- As it runs forward tial equilibrium. If it-is desired to run out ontofa.- beach, forA example, the engine may be startedor' allowed to continue to run, and" ferred embodiments herein shown in the drawings.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A heavier-than-.air fiying machine having a water-borne structure adapted to support the machine on and travel in contact with the water, said machine having toward each lateral end thereof a flexible blade extending toward the water and adapted to be fiexed backward and upward by the rush of I water as the machine loses its lateral equilibrium.

2. A heavier-,than-air ying machine adapted to rise from the water by its own power comprising an aeroplane, a boat-like structure below said aeroplane ,constituting the main supporting element when the ma-l chine is on the water and a pivoted fioat of relatively small supporting power below and at each side of the aeroplane, and meansl under the control of the operator to vary the inclination of said floats simultaneously 'in the same direction at will.

3. In a machine of the character described, an aeroplane adapted to be acted on by the air to exert a lifting effect, a sirfgle narrow boat having a substantially fiat and upwardly inclined 1 forward hydroplaning under-surface adapted to support the whole`A machine when it rests on the water and (except for the lift of said aeroplane) constituting substantially the entire supporting element so long as the machine is traveling in Contact with the water, a hydro-surface toward each lateral end of the machine and extending toward the water, said hydro-surfaces being so arranged that when the machine is traveling at full speed with said boat in contact with the water, said hydrosurfaces are substantially out of the water but adapted to engage the water and, through the lifting effect of thel rush of water against said surfaces, automatically to balance the machine when either side there- 'of becomes depressed, said surfaces being of tially the whole machine when standing on vthe water and (except for the lift'of said aeroplane) constituting substantially the entire supporting element so longas the machine .is traveling inl contact with the water, afloat and extending below it a hydro-Surface toward each lateral end of the machine,

said hydro-surfaces extending to the water when the machine is inequilibrium and moving slowly, said hydro-surfaces being soarranged that when the machine is traveling at full speed in contact with the water, said hydro-surfacesl are substantially out of the water but adapted to' engage thewater and,

lthrough the lifting effect of the rush of water against said surfaces, automatically to balance the machine when either side thereof becomes depressed, said surfaces being of slight supporting power compared with that of said floating means. i

5. In a ymachineof the character described, an aeroplane' adapted to be acted on by the air to exert a lifting-effect, iioating means below the same adapted to support the whole machine when atrest on the water and (exS cept for the lift of said-areoplane) constituting substantially .the entire supporting ele-l ment so longl asthe machineis traveling in contact with the water, arelatively small4 float ateach side of the machine substantially without buoyant'efl'ectw-hile the machine is traveling upon the water, a hydrosurface outside of said floating means and toward each lateral end of the machine,.lo cated substantially only at the center. of gravity' of the whole machine and extending toward the water, andeadapted to automatically balance` the machine .when either side becomes depressed.

6. A heavier-than-air fiying machine having an areoplane, `and a main water-borne structure .adapted to travel in contact with and be supported by the water and constituting substantially the entire supporting element when the machine `is speeding in contact with the wateran inclined hydro-surface towardeach lateral endrof the aeroplane and acted on by the rush of water, said aeroplane havingk a movable surface at each side under control of the operator to create a difference of air lift whereby the operator either sidel of the machine when traveling in contact with*vv the ywater and thereby force the hydro-surface'on that side deeper into the water to create a drag on I' that side of the machine to aid in steeringv the same, and correspondingly raise the hydro surface on the elevated side so Athat it is substantially out of the water before the wing tip on the depressed side comes in con- 1tact with the water. v 1 v y 7. In a mach'ne of the character described,

an aeroplane 'adaptedto bey acted on by the air to exert a liftingefi'ect, floating means below the same adapted to slip'port Substanz tially the whole machineswhen itfstands on the water and (exceptf for the lift offsaid aeroplane)` constituting `substantially the entire supporting ,element so long Vas the machine is traveling in` Contact withthe water, a relatively small buoyant float underv neath and toward each lateral end of the machine and of slight supporting power V'compared with that of said floating means,

each Ofsaid floats having a surface inclined downwardly and rearwardly toward the watially the whole machine when it is standing on the water and.."'(eXcept for the lift of l sald aeroplane) constituting Substantially the entire supporting element so long as the machine is standing upon or traveling in t 4contact with the water, a hydro-surface out-V sideo'f said floating ineans and` toward each lateral end of the machine, located substantially only opposi'tethe center ofgravity' of the whole machine, extending down toward the water but terminating above the lower surface of sai d` floating--means, and adapted automatically to balancethe machine `when y either side becomes depressed.

" it a buoyant float having 9. In a machine of the character described, an aeroplane adapted to be acted on by thel air'to exert a lifting effect, a substantially flat-bottomed boat-like structure, below the same located close to the longitudinal vaXis of the machine and adapted to support the whole machine in unstable lateral` equilibL rium when at rest on the water and (except for the lift of said aeroplane) constituting substantially the entire supporting element while the machine is standing and at all speeds so `long as the machine is traveling in contact with the water, and toward -each lateral end of the aeroplane a float of small buoyancy compared with that of thesaid 'boat-like structure, said floatsbeing stantially above the level of the bottom of said boat and each having a surface downwardly and rearwardly inclined and adapted to be 'acted on by the rush of water when A- 'the machine loses its lateral equilibrium.

10, In a machine vof the character described, an aeroplanel having below and substantially central 'of it a hydroplane surface adapted (aided by the lift of said aeroplane) itc support the wholemachine at substantially a flying angle of incidence when speed- `ing in contact with the water, and toward each lateral end of the aeroplane` and below a hydro surface inclined upwardly toward the front, the major portion of said' floats being higher than the water line of said first hydroplane surface, whereby when the machine is speeding adapted to drive the machine -forward at on the water said floats are substantially out-of the water.

11. In'a machine of the character described, an aeroplane, a boat-like structure below the same adapted to support the machine on and travel in contact with the water, a rearwardly inclined hydro surface` toward each lateral end of the aeroplane and below the same adapted to be acted on by the rush of water when themachine loses its lateral equilibrium,-said machine being without any material water-resistant surfaces lower than-the water line of said boat and aft of the -body of the boat, whereby the machine may rock upward at the front and rise from the water without being materially resisted at the rear.

12'. A hydrohaero-machine comprising a vmain aeroplane supporting surface, lateral `floats located below Vthe supporting plane and beyond each side of said lboatstructure, 95

said floats being'located above -the level of the boat bottom vand provided with' surfaces f inclined downwardly and rearwardly, adapted-gto .be acted vupon by the rush of water when the machine loses its lateral equilibrium, and means for operating the roo stabilizing surfaces to create a diffe-rence ofv `air lift.

' 13. A hydro-aero-machine comprising'one or more aeroplane supporting surfaces for Alifting themachine vfrom the water and lsupporting it in the air, a water-borne structure adapted, except .for the aeroplane lift, to sup-port substantially the entire machine at all speeds on the water,- and adapted to hydroplanefsofas to assist in lifting the machine to the surface of the water and permit the machine to be lifted from the water by the aeroplane lift, aerial propulsionv means sufficient speed for the air lift on said aeroplane surface to lift the machine out of the water, .a lateral. ,stabilizing devicetoward each lateral end of the machine 'adapted to be acted upon by` the water when the Inachine is tipped laterally thereby automatically to balance themachine on the water when either side becomes depressed, lateral stabilizing aeroplane surfaces and means operating same to assist inv controlling the .125 machine, and one or more elevator -aeroplane surfaces adapted to assist in changing theangle of incidence of the machine while running on the water and while intheairJ Y 14. A hydro-aero-machine comprising one 13o rocked longitudinally by manipulation of elevator surfaces, and with the assistance of the aeroplane surface to be lifted up on to the water to reducev head resistance and to be lifted from the water by the air lift, said .aeroplane surfaces being positioned on the boat structure to produce a proper lifting effect when the machine is hydroplaning, relatively small lateral balancing buoyant means located beyond each side of the boat structure and above the bottom of the boat structure and adapted to be acted upon by the water `when themachine becomes depressed on 'one side, to automatically assist lateral stabilizing aeroplane surfaces andv means operating same to enable lthe machine to be rocked laterallywhile on the water and assist in steering it, and to assist'in controlling it in the air, and one or more v elevator aeroplane surfaces adapted to assist in changing the angle of incidence of the machine While traveling on the water and while in the air.

15. In a machine of the character described, an aeroplane adapted to be acted upon by the air to exert a lifting effect, floating means below the aeroplane adapted to support substantially the `whole machine when it rests on the water and, except for the lift of the aeroplane, constituting substantially the entire supporting means so long as the machine is traveling in contact with the Water, and a relatively small float at each side of the machine adapted to automatically balance the machine by engagement with the water should either side thereof become de-y pressed.

16. A heaVier-than-air flying machine adapted to rise from the water by its own power comprising an aeroplane, floating means constituting, except for the aeroplane lift, the main supporting element so long as the machine is traveling on the water, a hydro surface at each side of the floating means, each hydro surface being capable of adjustment while the'machine is .in `operation, to the end that the resistance which such surfaces offer to the airv during Hight maybe lessened, saidhydro surfaces during operation of the machine on the water providing an automatic water-balancing means, Y f

'17. A device of the. character described having a buoyant hull-like body portion adapted to traverse the water, and except for 'the vaeroplane lift adapted to be substantially the entie supporting element at all speeds so long as the body portion is in contact with the water, planes extended from opposite sides of said body portion having movable 'parts and operable to sustain the structure during aerial flight and to assist 'in balancing the' same during travel over the water,` driven propelling means, and buoyantgbodies e-Xtended at opposite sides of the bodyportion operable'by contact with the water to assist in balancing the structure.

having an aero-plane, and a water-borne structure adap-ted 'except Lfor the aeroplane lift to be substantially they entire supporting element of the machine at all speeds on the water, said machine having in the direction of each lateral end thereof a surface extending toward the water and adapted to be acted upon by the rush of water as the machine loses its late-ral equilibrium. Y v

19. A hydro-aero-machine having an aeroplane adapted to be acted on by the air to exerta lifting'effect, floating means below the same adapted to support the whole machine when it rests on the water and exycept forthe lift of said aeroplane constituting substantiallyl the entire supporting element so long as they machine `is traveling in contact with the water, a surface at a positive angle of incidence to the water in the direction of each lateralrend of the ina.-

18. A heavier-than-air flying machine chine, said surfaces being so arranged that when the machine is traveling at full speed in cont/act with the water said surfaces are substantially out of the water but 4adapted to engage the water and Athrough the"lift ing effect of the yrush of water against said surfaces, automatically to balance the machine wheneither side thereof becomes de` pressed. l

20. In a machine of the character described, an aeroplane adapted i to support the whole machiney in fthe air. lateral Stabi; lizing surfaces tocreate' adifferenc e of` air lift, a buoyant structureada'pted. to support the entire machine when at rest on the water and except for the lift of said.' aeroplane constituting substantially the-sole supporting element so long as said machine is trav- Vcling in contact with the water, saidbuoycentral boat structure adapted to support j buoyant structure' that when it is speeding in contact with) the water 4said aeroplane is maintained at substantially a flying angle of incidence, whereby the machine rises to the top of the water and the head resistance the entire machine when on the water," and except' for the aeroplane lift, constituting substantially the entire supporting element at all speeds so long as the boat structure is traveling in contact with the water, and

lateral water stabilizing surfaces `to create I l tact with the water, and means for operating a difference of' lift. A

22. A hydro-aero-machine having a main aeroplane supporting surface, lateral stabilizing aeroplane surfaces to create a differ- 'ence of lift, a main water borne central boat structure adapted to support'theentiremachine when on the water, and except for the aeroplane lift," constituting substantially the entire supporting element at all speeds so long as the boat structure is traveling in contact withthewater, means for operating the stabilizing surfaces to create a difference of air lift, and said boat structure having a relatively broad forward under-surface and lateralwater balancing means.

23. A. hydro-aero-machine having a main aeroplane supporting surface, lateral Stabilizing aeroplane surfaces to create ya `difference of l1ft, a main water borne central boatY structure adapted to support the entire ma-` chine when onv the'water and except forthe aeroplane lift, constituting substantially the entire supporting element at all speeds so long as the'boat structure is'traveling in conthe stabilizing surfaces to create a difference of air lift, whereby said machine may be turned while on the water, and lateral water wardlyadapted to be acted upon'by'-the rush p balancing means. 24, A-hydro-aero-machin'e having a main aeroplane supporting surface, lateral stabilizing aeroplane surfaces to create a dierencel .of lift, a mainwater borne central -boat A structure adapted to .Support the'entire machine when onf the water, and except for the aeroplane lift, constituting substantially the entire supporting element at' all speeds so r long asthe boat structure is 'traveling in contact with the water, means-for operating fthe stabilizing surfaces to create a difference of air lift, and floats being adapted to be secured in anadjusted positlon.

25". In a machine adapted to fly in the air from the water while running at speedon the water, the combination of a main aero- 'planel supporting surface acted upon by the air so as to tend to lift the machine to lessen displacement'of the machine when running' at speed on the water', one or more elevator air planes vto assist in changing the angle of incidence of the machine while running at speed on the water, a main water-borne central boat structure adapted to -support substantially'the entire machine on the water, and except lfor theaeroplane lift, constitut- 'ing substantially the entire supporting element at all speeds offthe boat structure on` the water, relatively small horizontal balancing water floats located below the su porting plane and beyond each side .of said boat structure, said floats being' located above the level of the boat bottom and provided Vwith ysurfaces inclined downwardly*v and rearwardly, adapted to be acted 'upon by the rush of water when the'machine loses' its lateral equilibriumfmeans for operating the elevators to vary the angle yof incidence' of the machine on' the water, and an air pr'opeller .with means for drivin the same to propel the boat at speedon t e water.'

26. In af machine adapted to fly in the air` from thev water While running at vspe/ed on the, water, the ycombination .of a main aero 'f vplane lift surface, a maln Water-borne cen'# 'tral`boat structure-adapted, except for the aeroplane lift, -to supportsubstantially the entire machine at all speedsjso long `as the boat structure is traveling in contact with the water,` relatively small horizontal bal` ancing flloats located below the supporting plane and beyond each side of said boat structure, said floats being located above the level of the boatbottom and provided with surfaces inclined downwardly and rearlS'gned at Hammondsprt, N.`Y.,-th is 151thl Y. 

